Pump for acids.



H. TOBLER.

PUMP FOR ACIDS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23.19I8.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

HENRI TOBLER, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY.

PUMP FOR ACIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 22, 1918..

Application filed April 23, 1918. Serial No. 230,278.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRI TOBLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hackensack, in the county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pumps for Acids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to pumps, and it proposes, briefly, an improved apparatus of the general class or character indicated, which is designed primarily for use in the chemical industry for pumping acids and, also, muddy and gritty liquids.

According to the invention, the pump is so constructed as to prevent the acid from coming into contact with any part or parts liable to be injuriously affected by corrosive action; and, in the case of muddy or gritty liquids, to keep the same out of the piston cylinder in order to avoid damage due to the presence of the grit or other foreign substances of like nature therein. Collapsible tubes are preferably utilized, these tubes being located within auxiliary cylinders communicating with the aforesaid piston cylinder, so as to be subjected by the action of the piston to alternate expansion and compression, and caused, in consequence, to alternately draw in and discharge the liquid to be pumped; and the piston itself is constantly subjected to an even, uniform load, so that at each stroke thereof, one tube will be exhausted and the other filled, fromwhich it follows that the liquid is discharged in a continuous stream of constant volume during the entire time that the pump is running. In this way, and as a result of the arrangement stated, the apparatus is rendered more economic and efficient than the usual membrane or stoneware pumps, as well as being relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Other and further improvements will appear as the description proceeds, but it is to be understood that no limitation to the specific details of the present disclosure is contemplated, excepting as mav be determined from the scope of the invention as subsequently claimed, and that parts and features shown and described are not restricted in their use to the particular combinations in which they appear, but may be used independently of one another and in other and different environments.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional plan view, showng one form which the invention may take in practice; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken online 2-2, Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to said drawing, 10 indicates, generally, the controlling or operating cylinder of the apparatus, and 11 a piston reciprocating therein and driven by the piston rod '12 to which it is secured, the latter being actuated from any suitable source of power. The cylinder 10 and piston 11 are utilized to control the passage of the motive fluid, or what may be considered as such, to and from a plurality of auxiliary cylinders 14, located adjacent to and parallel with the said piston cylinder and communicating therewith by way of tubes or pipes 13. These auxiliary cylinders 14 are used in pairs; and in the present embodiment, which may be regarded for all practical purposes as preferred, one pair only is shown, though it will be apparent that more than one pair may be employed if desired, the pipes 13 leading from the opposite ends of the piston cylinder to the central portions of the auxiliary cylinders. The piston cylinder is filled on both sides of the piston with water, oil or other fluid constituting the afore-mentioned motive fluid; and by reason of that fact, and of the arrangement of the pipes 13 as above described, the piston will be loaded uniformly at all times. and at each stroke will force the fluid in front of it into one cylinder 14, While simultaneously exhausting the fluid from the other cylinder 14 and drawing it back into the piston cylinder behind the piston. The cylinders 14 may each be furnished with a safety valve 15 of suitable construction, to enable the escape of all fluid therefrom in excess of the quantity requisite for the proper operation of the pump.

At one end of each cylinder 14, there is provided a.fitting 16 of earthenware or other non-corrodible material, having a tapered lateral projection 17 which fits into the cylinder end. These fittings are hollow, as shown, and their interiors are in communication with an inlet pipe 18. through which the acid or other liquid to be pumped is supplied thereto; such communication being controlled by means of inlet valves 19, here represented as in the form of balls, normally end of each cylinder behind the piston.

We, LIJ

fitting in seats 20 in the bottoms oi the ings. he latter also communicate with passages 21 formed axially through the tapered or frusto-conical projections 17, so that the liquid flowing through the supply pipe past the ball valves 19 in to the fittmgs, wlll then be free to flow through the passages 21 into the cylinders 14 to which said fittings are secured by bolts 22, which pass through opposed collars 23 and or, provided, respectively, on the cylinder ends and on the fittings. The collars 23 are in the nature oi circumferential flanges, constructed integral with the cylinders, while the collars 24ers separate from the fittings andrest against flanges 25 formed circumferentially thereon.

A fitting 26 is also provided at the other 14, which is substantially similar to the corresponding inlet fitting 16, in so far as concerns its general construction and its connection to the cylinder. This fitting is likewise formed with a lateral, frusto-conical or tapered projection 27 having an axial passage 28 which opens into the interior of. the fitting. The flow of liquid through the passages 28 is controlled by ball valves 29, which normally rest in seats 30 formed in the fittings, but are forced therefrom by the pressure of the liquid passing out through the said passages, so that whereas the valves 19 control the admission of the liquid into the cylinders, as hereinafter explained, the valves 29 control its discharge from said cylinders. The upper portion of each fitting 26 communicates with the adjacent end of the lateral branch 31 of an outlet pipe 32. Y

The two fittings l6 and 26 opposite ends of each cylinder 14 are connected by'a collapsible tube 33, constructed of rubber or other material of like character incapable of being affected by the acid, and serving to transport the latter directly from the inlet fitting 16 to the outlet fitting 26 when the pump is in operation. These tubes 33, which extend lengthwise through the cylinders 14 and have their opposite ends clamped be-. tween the trusto-conical ends of the projec- .4. '3 P L .l tions 14 ano 24, and the cylinder ends, are sufiiciently smaller in diameter than the cylinders to provide intermediate or encircling chambers 34 for the fiuid forced into and out of the same by the action oi the piston.

The operation is substantially as follows: Assuming that the piston is in motion and is moving, say, toward the left with respect to Fig. 1, will force the fiuid in front of through the pipe 13 at the left-hand end of its cylinder into the chamber at in the connected auxiliary cylinder 1%, while simultaneously exhausting the fiuid "from the chamber in the other auxiliary cylinder, as previously explained, th fluid from the latter cylinder passing into the piston c into what may be regarded, with relation to l, as the upper of the two auxiliary cylinders will compress the tube 33 therein and will squeeze out the acid or other liquid, with which said tube has previously been filled, causing it to move forward through the passage 28 in the projection 27 of the respect1ve outlet fitting 26, past the ball or check valve 29 into said fitting, and thence from-the fitting into and through the connected branch pipe 31 to the outlet pipe 32. At the same time, the fiuid exhausted from the chamber 3% in the lower cylinder 14 permits the tube in said cylinder to expand, such expansion creating a suction action which tends to draw liquid from the supply pipe 18 past the ball or check valve 19 in the lower inlet fitting 16 into the latter and thence through the communicating passage 21 into the expanded tube. Cm the return stroke of the piston, the previously-filled lower tube 33 is exhausted, and the upper tube is re-filled, the fiuid from the former tube being discharged, as before, through the outlet pipe 32. Consequently, one cylinder is exhausted at each stroke of the piston, while the other is being refilled; and since the quantity of fiuid on opposite sides of the piston is the same, the load on the piston will be uniform at all times, and the stream of acid discharged through the outlet pipe will be of constant volume, and continuous throughout the entire operation of the pump if the piston be reciprocated at a high enough speed.

By utilizing tubes otrubber or other material unaffected by the acid to be pumped, and by constructing the fittings 16 and 2d of non-corrodible material, all danger of the pump parts being eaten away or otherwise damaged by the acid is completely avoided;

while by directly connecting the fittings by the said tubes, the liquid passing through the latter! is prevented from escaping through the pipes 13 into the piston cylinder, with the result that the entrance of any grit or other foreign substance which may be contained in the liquid and which is apt to cut or wear away the said piston cylinder is precluded. Further description of the invention, its mode or" operation and its advantages is believed to be unnecessary, and is, accordingly omitted.

I claim:

l. a pump, the combination of a pair of cy inders each having an inlet and an outlet; flexible tube in each cylinder connecting e inlet and outlet thereof; and mechanism communication with said cylinders acting in alternation upon the tubes therein to simultaneously collapse one tube and expand the other, so as to expel the liquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the collapsed tube ant; to draw in a fresh 1.2., 1 .1 1 c a ige 0i 1 id tlllOligll to inlet associated with E. 320 I :2. In a pump, the combination of a pair of cylinders each having a valve-controlled inlet at one end and a valve-controlled outlet at the other end; a flexible tube in each cylinder connecting the valves thereof; and

mechanism in communication with said cylinders acting to alternately collapse and expand the tubes therein, so as to expel the liquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the collapsed tube and to draw in a fresh charge of liquid through the inlet associated with the expanded tube.

3. In a pump, the combination of a pair of cylinders each having an inlet and an outlet;

a flexible tube in each cylinder connecting the inlet and outlet thereof; and mechanism in communication with said cylinders including a movable element acting in alternation upon'the tubes to simultaneously supply fluid to one cylinder to collapse the tube therein and withdraw fluid from the other cylinder to expand the tube therein, thereby to expel the liquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the colla sed tube and to draw in a fresh charge of liquid through the inlet associated with the expanded tube.

4. In a pump, the combination of a pair of cylinders each having an inlet and an outlet; a flexible tube in each cylinder connecting "the inlet and outlet thereof; and mechanism in communication with said cylinders in cluding a reversely-acting, reciprocating element adapted at each stroke to supply fluid to one cylinder to collapse the tube therein and withdraw fluid from the other cylinder to expand the tube therein,thcreby to expel the liquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the collapsed tube and to draw in a fresh charge of liquid through the inlet associated. with the expanded tube.

5. In a pump, the combination of a pair of cylinders each having an inlet and an outlet; a flexible tube in each cylinder connecting the inlet and outlet thereof, and of appreciably less diameter than that of the cylinder so as to provide an annular chamber which encircles the respective tube; and mechanism in communication with said chambers acting in alternation upon said tubes, to simultaneously supply fluid to one chamber to collapse the respective tube and withdraw fluid from the other chamber to expand the tube in said other chamber, thereby to expel the liquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the collapsed tube and to draw in a fresh charge of liquid through the inlet associated with the expanded tube.

6. In a pump, the combination of a pair so of cylinders each having an inlet and an outlet; a flexible tube in each cylinder connecting the inlet and outlet thereof; and mecha nism comprising a cylinder communicating at its opposite ends with the first-named cylinders, and a piston reciprocating in the second-named cylinder and acting in alternation upon said tubes, so that at each stroke of said piston the tube in one cylinder will be collapsed and the tube in the other cylinder will be expanded, thereby to expel the liquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the collapsed tube and to draw in a fresh supply of liquidthrough the inlet associated with the expanded tube.

7. In a pump, the combination, with a pair of cylinders each having similarly-arranged inlets and outlets, means for supplying the liquid to be pumped communicating with both inlets, and a discharge pipe with which both outlets communicate; of a flexi- 0 ble tube in each cylinder connecting the inlet and outlet thereof; and mechanism com prising a cylinder adapted to contain a motive fluid connected at its opposite ends with the first-named cylinders, and a piston re- 5 ciprocating within the second-named cylinder and evenly loaded at opposite sides by the motive fluid so that at each stroke of said piston the fluid will be forced into one of the first-named cylinders to collapse the tube therein, and withdrawn from the other first-named cylinder to expand the tube therein, thereby to expel theliquid to be pumped through the outlet associated with the collapsed tube and simultaneously draw in a fresh charge through the inlet associated with the expanded tube.

8. In a. pump, the combination of a cylinder provided at opposite ends with a valvecontrolled inlet and outlet; a flexible conduit connecting said inlet and outlet; and means for alternately collapsing and expanding said conduit to pump liquid through said conduit from the inlet to the outlet.

9. In a pump, the combination of a cylinder provided at opposite ends with a valvecontrolled inlet and outlet; a flexible conduit connecting said inlet and outlet; and mechanism for alternately supplying fluid to and exhausting it from said 0 linder to alternately collapse and expand said conduit, thereby to pump liquid through the conduit from the inletto the outlet.

10. In a pump, the combination of a cylinder provided at opposite ends with a valve-controlled inlet and outlet; a flexible conduit connecting said inlet and outlet; and a reciprocating element acting on one stroke to supply fluid to said cylinder so as to 001- lapse the conduit, and on the opposite stroke to exhaust the fluid so as to expand said conduit, thereby to pump liquid through the conduit from the inlet to the outlet.

11. In a pump, the combination of a cylinder provided at opposite ends with a valve-controlled inlet and outlet, a flexible tube connecting said inlet and outlet and having a diameter appreciably less than that of the cylinder so as to provide an annular chamber which encircles the tube; and a reciprocating element acting on one stroke to supply fluid to said. chamber so as to collapse the tube, and on the opposite stroke to exhaust the fiuid from said chamber so as to expand said tube, thereby to pump liquid through the tube from the inlet to the outlet,

12. 111 a pump, tie combination of a cylinder provided. at opposite ends with a valve-controlled inlet and outlet, a flexible tube connecting said inlet and outlet and having a diameter appreciably less than that of the cylinder so as to provide an annular chamber which encircles the tube, mechanism in communication with said chamber for alternately supplying fiuid thereto and exhausting it therefrcin so as to alternately collapse and expand. the tube.

13. a pump, the combination of a cylinder having inlet and outlet fittings at opposite ends thereof, each fitting bein provided with a chech valve with a. passage communicating with the i; c 'or of the cylinder; a flex ble conduit connecting said passages; and mechanism for alternately supplying fiuid to and exhausting it from said cylinder so as to alternately collapse and expand the conduit, thereby to pumo .oast the chech valve of the inlet fitti through said inlet and it passage, and thence into the conduit, and to expel it from said conduit through the passage and past the check valve of the outlet fitting and out through said outlet fitting,

1%, ln a pump, the combination of a cylinder having non-corrcdible inlet and outlet fittings at oppos'te ends thereof; a fieni ble tube of acid-prose material connecting said fittings; and mechanism for alternately supplying fiuid to and exhausting it from said cylinder so as to alternately collapse and expand said tube, thereby to pump liquid from the inlet fitting into and through said tube and out through the outlet fitting. 15. In a pump, the combination of a cylinder having non-corrodible inlet and outlet fittings, at opposite ends thereot; a flexible tube of acid-proof material connecting said fittings preciably less than that of the cylinder so as to provide an annular chamber which. encircles the tube; and a reciprocating ele ment acting on one stroke to lorce fiuid said chamber and around said tube to collapse the latter, and on the opposite strolze to exhaust the fluid from said chamber to expand the tube, thereby to pump liquid from the inlet fitting into and through said tube and out through the outlet fittinw In testimony Whereoi my signature;

and having a diameter ap- 

